If you use a granola bar or a candy bar to help get you
through the day, you may want to end this practice.

Why?
Poorly made snack bars may give you an initial jolt of
energy, but an hour or two later, you’re ready for
a nap or another snack.


So, what do you do to counter this?
Choose healthier options, like…
fruit, cut-up veggies, hard-boiled eggs, or
continue to enjoy your snack bars.

That’s right- continue to enjoy snack bars, but now,
they’ll be homemade.
Preparing your own sweet treats allows you to control
the types of fats, sugars and carbs that will used to make these
delectable treats.
Plus, they’ll satisfy your cravings, prevent the blood-sugar spikes
and keep you alert and energized long after you eat them.

Listed below- are the ingredients (make sure to write them down
for this week’s grocery list) and 3 recipes for homemade snack bars.

a) No-Bake Chocolate Bars-
Enjoy a metabolism boost with these chocolate treats.
To make:
In a bowl, mix 1 cup of almond butter, 2 cups of oats (top quality)
1/4 cup of pure maple syrup and 1/2 cup of slivered almonds.
Press into a parchment-lined 8″ square dish and refrigerate
for an hour or two. Cut into bars; and dip the bottoms into 1/2 cup
melted dark chocolate and use the rest of the chocolate to drizzle
onto the top of the bars.
Hidden benefit: The almond butter is a monounsaturated fat,
a good fat that boosts metabolism.

b) Fruit Bars-
If you enjoy fruit bars and want a small boost in energy,
try these tasty treats.
To make:
In a bowl, combine 1 1/2 cup puffed rice cereal, 1 1/2 oats,
1 cup freeze-dried strawberries, 1/2 cup almond butter and 1/2
honey. Press into a parchment-lined 8″ square baking dish;
refrigerate for an hour or two. Drizzle the bars with some
melted chocolate. Cut into bars and enjoy with some almond,
coconut or oat milk.
Hidden benefit: Strawberries contain anthocyanins–compounds
that help boost energy levels.

c) Nut Bars-
A healthy bar that allows you to eat just one and not go back
for seconds 60 minutes later.
To make:
In a bowl, mix 1 cup of natural peanut butter, 2 cups of
rolled oats, 2 Tbs. top quality dark honey, 1/2 tsp. vanilla
extract and 1/2 cup of organic mini chocolate chips.
Roll into 1″ balls and refrigerate.
Hidden benefit: Peanuts and oats contain fiber and magnesium,
and together they help the thyroid function at optimal levels,
which keeps your appetite in check.

One last tip:
Feel free to take out some of ingredients and include ones you enjoy.
If you enjoy raisins, pecans, walnuts, dates, sunflower or chia seeds,
grapes or blueberries then go ahead and use them.
Just make sure not to go overboard and raise the calorie count to
unhealthy levels.

That’s it- 3 healthy alternatives to the nutritionally lacking
candy and energy bars.